2013-2014 Kane Scholars announced

Otero Junior College and the Kane Family Scholars scholarship program are pleased to announce the two OJC recipients of this year’s awards. The recipients are Brittany Renee Leyba and Katrina Martinez, both recent graduates of La Junta High School.

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By OJC Staff

LA Junta Tribune - La Junta, CO

By OJC Staff

Posted Aug. 27, 2013 at 3:00 PM

By OJC Staff
Posted Aug. 27, 2013 at 3:00 PM

Otero Junior College and the Kane Family Scholars scholarship program are pleased to announce the two OJC recipients of this year’s awards. The recipients are Brittany Renee Leyba and Katrina Martinez, both recent graduates of La Junta High School.

Leyba and Martinez were chosen for this award based on their academic achievements in high school and their joint admission into the UCCS University Connection program through OJC. They each completed high school with a GPA of 3.25 or better.

The Kane Family Scholars scholarship is a program designed to assist OJC students in their efforts to pursue a bachelor’s degree at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. The program will enable a student to graduate from OJC and transfer to UCCS with financial assistance at both colleges for books, tuition and fees.

Brittany Leyba is a 2013 graduate of La Junta High School. Along with participating in volleyball, basketball, Future Business Leaders of America, Hi Teens and Positive Impact, she volunteered with several community service projects during her high school years. Leyba continues to be a positive role model who is involved in the community.

Once she earns her associate’s degree at OJC, Leyba plans to transfer to UCCS to continue her studies in child development. She has a love for children and wants to work toward a career in this area.

Katrina Martinez is also a 2103 graduate of La Junta High School. Martinez was active with various sports throughout high school and continues to be involved in basketball at OJC. In addition to sports and Future Business Leaders of America, Martinez has been involved in numerous volunteer activities through school and in the community. She received an Academic Honor Award and All-Conference Honorable Mention for basketball.

Upon completing her associate’s degree at OJC, Martinez plans to transfer to UCCS to study dental hygiene. She is excited to begin her college life and looks forward to building her future.

The Kane Family Foundation has a merit-based scholarship program that provides financial assistance to students who attend public higher education institutions in southern Colorado.

Andy Kane was born in 1918 on the family homestead east of Fountain. Later, he became a business partner to Wanden Matthews La Farge in the purchase of the South Gore Ranch. They later married and built the Kane Family Ranch headquarters near Williams Creek. The Kanes ranched and raised quarter horses for more than 30 years. Mr. Kane was a member of the Cowboys Turtle Association, the predecessor to the Professional Cowboy Association, and participated in many rodeos.

Wanden Matthews Kane was born in New York and moved to the Pikes Peak region in 1940. She was a rancher, investor and educator who spoke seven languages, wrote Arabic and Sanskrit, and traveled the world. She was twice elected as Fountain’s mayor, was named Soroptimist Citizen of the Year, and founded the women’s association for rodeo. Alexander “Andy” Kane died in 2003. Wanden Matthews Kane died in 1991.

Page 2 of 2 - Together Andy and Wanden Kane’s vision was to help others. Though Andy never received a formal education, he and his wife believed that education was the key to lifelong independence. The Kane Family foundation allows this vision to continue by helping thousands of Colorado residents achieve the dream of a college education.

Scholarships for The Kane Family Scholars scholarship program have been awarded to Otero Junior College students for the past six years. For more information about next year’s deadlines and criteria, contact Angela Benfatti, OJC financial aid director, at 384-6834.